S P R I N G HORSES TO FOLLOW 20 23

5yo The Gurkha –

Trainer Nicky

Henderson

Possible Cheltenham Target

Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Earth Amber (Hurricane Run)

Owner

Pump & Plant Services Ltd

Possible Target Elsewhere

Top Novices’ Hurdle

UNBEATEN in two starts in bumpers last season, she beat the 125-rated Blow Your Wad on debut and had Eabha Grace (a 30-length winner at Punchestown in January) 17 lengths away in second, when winning a Listed bumper at Sandown on soft ground

She confirmed the promise when winning a Listed mares’ novices’ hurdle at Newbury on debut, when jumping well to beat a couple of subsequent winners in taking fashion. That run also proved her ability to handle a sounder surface and she was an intended runner in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle in early-January, only to miss the race due to an unsatisfactory scope

Given time to recover, she headed to Exeter the following month, where she maintained her unbeaten record and beat the boys for the first time. Despite not hurdling as fluently, it was an emphatic victory and one which sees her now, rightfully, sit at the head of the Dawn Run betting.

Whilst the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle remains a possibility – and she certainly wouldn’t be out of place in that Grade 1 – the mares’ route seems most likely. If all goes well at Cheltenham, the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree could offer her the chance of top-level success before the season is out. The daughter of The Gurkha remains hugely exciting.